The Delta independent., 1887-05-31
oLoHsckoRY,s HERMITAGE.
4 Tsssr to the Interesting Tennessee
Home OF Andrew Jackson.


,s''e, who recently visited "The Hermit
age" Andrew Jackson's old Tennessee
country seat, writes as follows:
When my presence became known
on the broad piazza an aged negro
came forward and greeted me with Gu
rlous and quaint politeness. HIS hair
was white. his black face wrinked and
wizzencd and he was but poorly dress
ed. Welcome, sab! to de Hermitage
he said. with a broad salaam and sweep
OF his ancient hat. soon learned that
this was "Uncle Alfred" one of the
last of Gen. Jackson's servants. He
was born at the Hermitage" eighty
four years ago and has never left the
place. He is now kind of factotum.
and to him has been especially assign
cd the task of escorting such pilgrims
as may visit the historic spot and wor-
ship at the shrine of St. Andrew. He
is comical old soul 'G'way. chillen."
he excla med to group of youngsters
OF all shades. who had gathered about.
"Hy'ar you. Jim. tie de gemman's hoss;
come in. sah!" and Uncle Alfred led the
way through the massive oallen door
into the great hall of the "Hermitage."
There was suggestion of grandeur
about this old hall. even though it were
barren of adornment and not wholly
free from the ravages of tine and pres
ence of dust. Uncle Alfred placed an
old-fashioned hickory bottomed chair
for his visitor and ut once began to
explain. in his old-fashioned, obsequ Gus
way. that "de Kunnel'' (Cof Andrew
Jackson, jr.), was not at home. "He
done gone to Nashville" said the old
man. with a touch of sadness in his
voice. ''rhey'se trying to 8 We the old
place away to de Guv' ment, and. de
kunnel gone to town to see de Legs-
latur. Guess dey won't drive ole IN s.
sus out and all of US, but dc Kunnels
mighty 'fraid of dem folks in Nash
ville.''
just then feeble. querulous voice
came from an inner room. "Alfredr'
Yes. missus," and the old man. with
"Scuse me. sah!' hobb!ed through
a side door. WHO is the genilcman?"
l heard the same voice ask. "Where is
Andrew? i will not leave here till
Andrew comes"
L OWNED at once that this was the
aged daughter-in-law of Andrew Jack
son. / beckoneh Uncle Alfred. handed
him a card, and ask ii could see Mrs.
Jackson. In a second the old servant.
bowing and scraping, nshered me into
plainly furnished room. In Il great
easy chair sat a decrepit old lady. Her
little body swayel back and forth, her
neat ! tile cap was closely drawn over
thin. white hair. and her eyes was
lustreless. She put forth an attenuatel
hand and smiled in kind of Il helpless
way. but said with dignity: Il trust.
sir. you W II not require me to leave un-
til my son returns. am very old, and
1t would be cruel to force me out of the
house without seeing him ilrst.' l at
one assured the old :lls that had no
such mission. She became calm. and
toyed with the card moment "iou
came from Nashville ?" she asked.
told her yes. but did not live there. Il
am from Ch cago."
..Ah Chicago. What a great city
that is. Ny father" and here the old
lady drew herself up proudly. my
father took great interest in Chicago
when it WAS only Fort Dearborn. But
have never been there. Hannah -
A likely young colored woman appear
..TlIe gentleman VIII excuse me, l
know; must lie down. Alfred will
show you about the place. sir. Here.
Hannah. give me your arm.
The old lady rose slowly and feebly.
and supported bj her servant tottered
from the room.
"Missus is sittin' mighty old" said
Alfred. who appeared; "she's eighty
three now. an sire drefful 'fraid OF
bcin' pnt out of the Hermitage.
Alfred led the way to the back piazza.
and with reverential forelinger pointed
out small log house with two windows
and an outs de chimney. such as are SO
common in the South. ''Dat was de
house ole mass. de Gin'l. first lived
in" he said, in retrospective tone.
.Dis yer house was built in 1926, but
dc G nj never 'joycd hisself yer. Dat
ole house was where he lived wild de
fus' M ssus-dar was where he cum
when he chn back from New Awleans;
dar wheik his frens use to come befo'
he WAS President. was bawn dar.
sab! My nanny was the G MS cook,
an you see dat kitchen often de cabin +?
/ was bawn dar. sab. in 1902.
/ saw that Uncle Alfred was in
oommunicat We mood and that he had
remarkable memory. and SD / let him
rattle on. "Dis yer house was built in
1826-now wiz t; not dis yer house ex-
actly, TO yo' see dat de house dat was
built den was burned down in 1882.
Next yea 4 was built up agin-dat's
dis yer house. 1t was de old house dat
de fus misses diel in. She had only
been out O. de cabin over dar two years.
Do Gin'l had been elected President.
Missus was packn' her trunks to 60
TO Washington when she took sick and
l. ~